Cabinet



June 17, 1958 N. E. GlANNlNl 2,839,348

' CABINET Filed Feb. 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 17, 1958 N. E. GlANNlNl 2,839,343

CABINET Filed Feb, 6, 1957 4 Sheet-Sheet 2 June 1953 N. E. GlANNlNl 2,839,348

. CABINET Filed Feb. 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 June 17, 19-58 N- E. GIANNINI 2,839,343

CA'B'INET Filed Feb. 6, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent CABINET I Nunzie E. Giannini, Passaic, N. J., assignor to Eastern Corrugated Container Corporation, Inc., Clifton, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application February 6, 1957, Serial No. 638,586

4 Claims. (Cl. 312-263) This invention relates to a cabinet formed from flexible sheet material such as corrugated cardboard or fiberboard and, while not necessarily confined thereto, it is more particularly concerned with a toy cabinet simulating a refrigerator adapted for use by children in play.

Simulated appliances, such as refrigerators, have been proposed in various forms for use by little girls in makebelieve housekeeping. The provision of very small miniature appliances has presented no particular problem and these are readily formed from metal or wood with no special difiiculty. It has been found however, that children have a strong preference for large-scale toys of this nature, more particularly toys which are about half-scale in relation to the actual appliance so that the toy bears to the child the same proportional relationship that the actual appliance does to an adult. Such large-scale toys, however, present serious problems with respect to construction. Attempts to use metal and wood, for example, have resulted in very heavy expensive constructions which involve major manufacturing difficulties and are difiicult for a child to manipulate and move about between play periods. Furthermore, such large-scale metal and wooden toys necessarily command a sales price which puts them out of the reach of the average family. Attempts have been made, therefore, to solve these problems by the use of lighter, less-expensive materials such as cardboard or fiberboard. These attempts, however, have heretofore met only with limited success and have encountered other problems owing to the fact that a sturdy construction has not been realized. Such toys formed from cardboard and the like have lacked dimensional stability and have collapsed or have been easily damaged during normal play, particularly when any weight has been applied to them.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cabinet construction involving the use of flexible sheet material such as corrugated cardboard or fiberboard which avoids the disadvantages and drawbacks of prior constructions uitilizing this type of material.

It is another object of the invention to provide a cabinet construction of the character indicated which has high dimensional stability and is effectively resistant to applied weight.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a largescale toy which is inexpensive yet which is strong and has a longlife in use.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a large-scale toy refrigerator formed from flexible sheet material which simulates the full-size appliance yet is light inweight, sturdy, and easily manipulated and moved by a child.

In accordance with the invention, I provide a cabinet construction formed from a plurality of interengaging sheets of flexible sheet material, more particularly corrugated cardboard or fiberboard, which has been suitably cut and scored. The cabinet comprises a pair of identical sidewall members, apair of end members, a back member, an interior wall member, and a plurality of shelves, all interengag ed in locking relationship. In a preferred pivotally-attached door.

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embodiment the cabinet further includes at least one In the cabinet construction the side wall members define the vertical sides of the cabinet and have end flaps cooperating with the end members and with the back member to form a reinforced top and bottom for the cabinet. The side wall members also have lateral flaps which cooperate with the interior wall member and with the shelves to interlock these elements in place.

It is a feature of the invention that the various flexible sheet elements interlock to form a pressure-resistant assembly having exceptional vertical and lateral dimen sional stability.

It is another feature of the invention that the walls and ends of the assembly are effectively reinforced by the cooperating action of adjacent sheet elements to make it possible for the cabinet to withstand substantial weights without damage.

Other objects and features of the invention will be readily apparentfrom the following detailed description and from the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the partially-assembled cabinet, showing the interrelationship of the side wall members and the shelves;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the interior wall member partly in position;

Fig. 3 is a further perspective View illustrating the joining of the back member to the partial assembly of Fig. 2; i

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the end members bent to be received in the bottom of the partial assembly of Fig. 3; p i

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the cabinet showing the end member of Fig. 4 partially inserted in the bottom of the assembly;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary bottom perspective view showing the parts of the end member, the side wall members and the back member partially interlocked;

Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the complete interlocking of parts to form the bottom of the cabinet assembly;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the cabinet with the top portion still in only partly assembled condition;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary top perspective view of Fig. 8 showing the top portion of the cabinet with the end flaps of the side members, the back member and the top member in open position before final interlocking;

Fig. 10 is a plan view of the blank of each side wall of Fig. 15 is a plan view of the principal blank of the door which may be provided in the cabinet;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the partly assembled portions of the door of the cabinet;

Fig. 17 is a similar view of the portions of the door substantially completely assembled.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the blank for an auxiliary inner door;

Fig. 18:: is a similar view of the completely assembled auxiliary door; and

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the completely assembled cabinet, showing the doors mounted in it.

Referring to the drawings, the illustrative embodiment of the cabinet shown is designated generally by the rfrence numeral and is formed by the interconnection of two side-wall member blanks 22 (Fig. 10), two end member blanks 24 and 24a (Figs. 14 and 14a), one back member blank 26 (Fig. 13), one interior wall member blank 28 (Fig. 12) and three shelf blanks 30 (Fig. 11) and, when provided with doors, further includes a front door formed from the blanks 32 and 33 shown in Figs. 15-17 and an inner door formed from the blank 35 shown in Figs. 18 and 18a. Referring more particularly to Fig. 10, wherein is shown one of the two identical side-wall member blanks 22, each blank 22 is cut and scored to define a main body portion 38, a side panel separated-f'rom body portion 38 by an intermediate portion 41 defined by score lines 42 and 43; wings 45 and 46 flexibly connected to body portion 38 along score lines 48 and 49, respectively, end panels 51 and 52 connected to" the body portion along score lines 54 and 55, respectively, and end flaps 56 and 57 connected respectively to end panels 51 and 52 along score lines 58 and 59 respectively, and an edge flap 60 flexibly connected to the body portion along score line 61. A plurality of cut-outs 63 are formed in edge flap 60 adjacent score line 61, cutouts 65 and 66 extend outwardly from score lines 54 and 55, respectively, and pairs of cut-outs 68 are formed in side panel 40. In addition, side panel 40 is provided with notches 70 along its free edge and with tongues 71 at each end. End flap 56 has a tongue 72 formed along its free end edge.

It will be understood that the blanks 22 as well as the other blanks to be described below are suitably formed from fiat sheets of corrugated fiberboard, solid fiberboard, boxboard or other similar foldable material which is lightweight yet possesses adequate flexibility for the purposes of thisinvention, and that these blanks are cut and scored by suitably-formed dies in accordance with conventional practice in the fiberboard container industry.

As shown in Fig. 1, the two blanks 22 are first inter engaged with three shelves 75 formed from blanks 30 having the structure shown in Fig. 11. Each blank 30 has two panels 76 flexibly interconnected along double score lines 77 to an intermediate strip 78 and provided with T-shaped locking tongues 79. As shown in Fig. 1, the locking tongues 79 engage in the cut-outs 68 and notches 70 of the side panels 40 of the blanks 22. Also engaging with the locking tongues 79 is the interior wall member formed from blank 28. As shown in Fig. 12, blank 28 is cut and scored to define a main back portion 80, wings 81 defined by score lines 82, and edge flaps 84 defined by score lines 85. Back portion is. formed with' spaced-apart cut-out flaps 86 hinged along score lines 87, and the wings 81 are provided with pairs of cut-outs 88. In addition, the wings 81 are formed with inner tongues 89, corner tongues 90, and edge notches 91 and 92. As seen in Fig. 2, when the blank 28 is assembled with blanks 22 and 30 to define the interior backwall of the cabinet, the locking tongues 79 of the blanks 30 engage in the cut-outs 88 and in the cutouts 91 and 92 as the wings 81 overlie the side panels 40 of the blanks 22.

The main body of the cabinet 20 is completed by the back member defined by blank 26. As seen in Fig. 13, blank 26' has a main back portion 93 from which locking tongues 94 extend laterally on each side. At one end back portion 93 is joined to an end panel 96 along score lines 97 and panel 96 is joined to an end flap 98 along score line 99. At the opposite end of back portion 93, score lines 102 and 103 define an end panel 105 and an end flap 106, the end flaps 98 and 106 being provided with cut-out slots 108 and 109, respectively. As seen in Fig; 3, when the blank 26 is assembled with the previously-described blanks, the locking tongues 94 engage in the cut-outs 63 of each blank 22.and become locked in place, the tongues 94 being formed with flexible wings 110 on each side which bend inwardly to permit passage through the cut-outs 63 and then spring open.

The cabinet 20 is completed, except for the doors, by engaging and interlocking the top and bottom end blanks 24 with the other previously assembled blanks, as shown in Figs. 4 to 9. The bottom end blank 24 has the construction shown in Fig. 14 and includes a main end panel which is provided with cut-outs 116 and is joined along score lines 117 by wings 118. Additionally, panel 115 is connected along score line 120 to an end flap 121, and score lines 122, 123, and 124- define integrally connected inner panel 126, outer panel 127 and end fiap 128 which is provided with slots 130. The top end blank 24a is similar to blank 24 except for certain dimensional changes and except for the presence of auxiliary cut-outs 119. Thus blank 24a has a main end panel 115a with cut-outs 116a and 119, score lines 117a, 120a, 122a, 123a, and 124a, Wings 118a, panels 126a and 127a and flaps 121a and 128a, the lastnamed being provided with slots 130a.

To assemble the bottom of the cabinet, the bottom end blank 24 is bent into the form shown in Fig. 4 and the cut-outs 116 are then engaged with the tongues 71 of the panels 40 and with the tongues 89 and 90 of the blank 28, the tongues 90 overlying the tongues 71. The flaps 52 and 57 of the side-wall member blanks 22 are then bent inwardly, as shown in Fig. 6, and the panel 96 and end flap 98 of back member blank 26 are then engaged in the slots 108. inwardly into end-abutting relationship and the portions 126, 127 and 128 of the bottom end member are folded inwardly and the end flap 128 is also engaged in the slots 188 to provide the interrelationships shown in Fig. 7. To complete the bottom the flaps 98 and 128 are pushed completely into position so that the panels 96 and 127' lie in coplanar relationship to provide a flat surface to support the cabinet.

The top end member 24a is in similar manner engaged with the upper portion of the cabinet body. Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, for example, the member 24a placed in position by moving it downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 8 until the tongues 72, 89 and 90 engage in slots 116a, the flaps 118a and 121a being bent upwardly as seen in Fig. 9. Then the panels 51 and end flaps 56 are bent inwardly and the tongues 72 are engaged in slots 119 formed in the main end panel 115a of the member 24a. The wings 45 are then bent inwardly into end-abutting relationship and the flaps 106 and 128a are engaged in the slots 65 in the manner shown in Fig. 7 in connection with the bottom end panel. The completed top of the cabinet is shown in Fig. 19.

There is thus provided a cabinet which is formed solely from foldable sheet material such as corrugated fiberboard but which, due to the interrelationship of parts, is sturdy and load-sustaining and has extremely high dimensional stability. It will be seen that the several parts reinforce each other and particularly in the case of the top and bottom of the cabinet, vertically-extending panel portions held rigidly in place, such as the parts shown in detail in Fig. 6 and the corresponding parts at the top of the cabinet impart to the cabinet high load-bearing characteristics.

As previously indicated, an important application of the cabinet of this invention as a toy is the provision of a half-scale toy refrigerator. For this purpose, doors such as shown in Fig. 19 are hingedly connected to the body of the cabinet. Referring to Figs. 15-17, there is shown the' interengagement of blanks to form the main outer door. The blank has a main body panel 142, end flaps 144 joined to it along double score lines 145, a side flap 147 joined alongdouble score line 148 and a side flap 150 joined along double score line 151. The several parts of the blank 140 are formed with apertures for reception of screws 156 with cooperating nuts 157 to hold the parts together as will be described below. The panel. 142 is also formed with a cut-out 158 to receive a handle 159. Cooperating with blank 140 is a blank Finally the wings 46 are bent 160 having a main body portion 162 and an end flap 163 flexibly connected to it along a score line 164, the blank 160 being provided with apertures 165. To .assemble the door, the flaps 147 and 163 are interconnected by screws 156 and nuts 157 passing through apertures 155 and 165, the handle 159 having previously been placed in position, a hinge bar 168 is placed along score line 151, the flap 150 is then folded inwardly, followed by the flaps 144 and the body portion 162 is then bent on the score line 164 over the inturned flaps as shown in Fig. 17. Finally, the parts are interconnected by passing the screws 156 through the cooperating apertures and engaging them with the nuts 157. The ends of the hinge bar 168 which extend beyond the door are engaged in aperture 170 in panel 115 and aperture 170a in panel 115a, it being understood that this engagement is effected while the top end member 14a is being connected with the body portion of the cabinet.

To simulate a modern refrigerator with a top freezer compartment, an inner door 172 is also advantageously provided from a single blank which has a main body portion 174, end flaps 175, a lower side flap 176 and a top side flap 179, the several parts being provided with apertures 180 to receive screws 156 and the body portion 174 being formed with a cut-out 181 to receive a handle 182 similar to handle 159. As seen in Figs. 18 and 18a, the several flaps of the door 172 are folded inwardly to interlock with a hinge bar 185 and interconnected by screws and nuts passing through the apertures 180. The door is then mounted in the cabinet by passing the free ends of hinge bar 185 through apertures 186 formed in side panels 40 of side-wall member blanks 22. The door 172 is mounted during the assembly of the panels 40 with the shelves.

It will be understood that various designs and indicia may be printed upon the body of the cabinet, the shelves, and the doors for example, to simulate the trim and design features of conventional full-size refrigerators to add further to the life-like appearance of the toy. It will also be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments of the invention described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. It is intended, therefore, that all matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in the drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not as limitative of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A cabinet formed from flexible sheet material and comprising a pair of identical side Wall members each defining a side Wall panel portion, a first back member in interlocking engagement with the back edge of the side wall panel portion of said side wall members, said side wall members having retroverted panel portions extending interiorly of the enclosure defined by said side wall panel portions and said first back member lying substantially parallel to said side wall panel portions, an interior second back member in interlocking engagement with said retroverted panel portions, and top and bottom end members each having panel portions interlocking respectively with the top and bottom edges of said retroverted portions, said first back member having flaps at its top and bottom ends, and said top and bottom members having flaps extending from said panel portions, said flaps of the end members and said flaps of the first back member being folded inwardly of said enclosure to meet to define the top and bottom end surfaces of the cabinet and having vertically-extending end tongue portions bearing against the panel portions of said end members, whereby the panel portion of each end member is parallel to and spaced inwardly of the adjacent cabinet end surface with said end tongue portions extending substantially at right angles to said last-named panel portion and the adjacent end surface.

2. A cabinet formed from flexible sheet material and comprising a pair of identical side wall members each defining a side wall panel portion, a first back member in interlocking engagement with the back edge of the side wall panel portion of said side wall members, said side wall members having retroverted panel portions extending interiorly of the enclosure defined by said side wall panel portions and said first back member lying substantially parallel to said side wall panel portions, an interior second back member in interlocking engagement with said retroverted panel portions, and top and bottom end members each having panel portions interlocking respec tively with the top and bottom edges of said retroverted portions, said first back member having flaps at its top and bottom ends, and said top and bottom members having flaps extending from said panel portions, said flaps of the end members and said flaps of the first back member being folded inwardly of said enclosure to meet to define the top and bottom end surfaces of the cabinet and having vertically-extending end tongue portions bearing against the panel portions of said end members, whereby the panel portion of each end member is parallel to and spaced inwardly of the adjacent cabinet end surface with said end tongue portions extending substantially at right angles to said last-named panel portion and the adjacent end surface, and a plurality of shelves in spaced apart relationship engaged with said retroverted panel portions in parallel relationship with the panel portions of the top and bottom members.

3. A cabinet formed from flexible sheet material and comprising a pair of identical side wall members each defining a side wall panel portion, a first back member in interlocking engagement with the back edge of the side wall panel portion of said side wall members, said side wall members having retroverted panel portions extending interiorly of the enclosure defined by said side wall panel portions and said first back member lying substantially parallel to said side wall panel portions, an interior second back member in interlocking engagement with said retroverted panel portions, and top and bottom end members each having panel portions interlocking re spectively with the top and bottom edges of said retroverted portions, said first back member having flaps at its top and bottom ends, and said top and bottom members having flaps extending from said panel portions, said flaps of the end members and said flaps of the first back member being folded inwardly of said enclosure to meet to define the top and bottom end surfaces of the cabinet and having vertically-extending end tongue portions bearing against the panel portions of said end members, whereby the panel portion of each end member is parallel to and spaced inwardly of the adjacent cabinet end .surface with said end tongue portions extending substantially at right angles to said last-named panel portion and the adjacent end surface, and a plurality of shelves in spaced apart relationship engaged with said retroverted panel portions in parallel relationship with the panel portions of the top and bottom members, and a door hingedly connected to said top and bottom members.

4. A cabinet formedfrom flexible sheet material and comprising a pair of identical side wall members each defining a side wall panel portion having a flap at its upper end, a first back member in interlocking engagement with the back edge of the side wall panel portion of said side wall members, said side wall members having retroverted panel portions extending interiorly of the enclosure defined by said side Wall panel portions and said first back member lying substantially parallel to said side wall panel portions, an interior second back member in interlocking engagement with said retroverted panel portions, and top and bottom end members each having panel portions interlocking respectively with the top and bottom edges of said retroverted portions, said firstback member having flaps at its top and bottom ends, and said top and bottom'members having flaps extending from said panel portions, said flaps on the side wall panel portions being folded inwardly of said enclosure and bearing vertically against the panel portions of said end members, said flaps of the end members and said fiaps of the first back member being folded inwardly of said enclosure to meet to define the top and bottom end'surfaces of the cabinet and having vertically-extending end tongue portions engaging With the flaps of the sidewall panel portions and bearing against the. panel portions of said end members, whereby the panel portion of each end member-is parallel to'and spaced inwardly of the adjacent cabinet end surface with said end tongue portions extending substantiallyfat right'angles to said last-named panel portion and the adjacent end surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 564,593 CraW July 28, 1896 2,371,680 Derman Mar. 20, 1945 2,438,257 Stevenson et a1. Mar. 23, 1948 2,734,349 Repking et al Feb. 14, 1956 

